Photographic shutter.



Patented Ian. l5, "WI.

2 shun-shut 6. r. FRALEY.

PHOTOGRAPHIG SHUTTER.

(Application filed. Nov. 25, 1699.

(No Model.)

H A 0 T M [w m V f a P x w If M W m X E w E w W No. 666,006. PatentedJan. l5, I90l. G. F. FRALEY. PHUTOGBAPHIG SHUTTER.

(Application filed Nov. 25, 1899.)

(In llqdol.)

2 Sheets-Shoot 2.

WI TNE SSE 8 7 IN YEA/7'0 I g M I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GASSNER FELTUS FRALEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATICCAMERA COMPANY, OF NEW? YORK, N. Y.

PHOTOGRAPH) SHUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,006, dated January15, 1901.

Application filed November 25, 1899. Serial No. 738,241. tl lo model-JTo aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GASSNER FELTUs FRA- LEY, acitizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, haveinvented a new and Improved Shutter and Finder Mechanism forPhotographicCain eras, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to photographic cameras, and has for its object toimprove them in several respects, and particularly, first, toprovideafindershowingtheimage of fullsize, as the image is produced bythe same lens which effects the exposure; second, to utilize a portionof the finder for the operation of the shutter, and, third, to provide asimple mechanism for obtaining at will either snap-shots or timeexposures.

The invention will be fully described hereinafter and the features ofnovelty pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a central section or elevation of the camera through theaxis of the objective, showing the parts in position before exposure.Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in position after exposure.Fig. 3 is a broken View showing the upper portion of the camera and theshutter mechanism as the same would appear after removing one of thesides of the camera. Fig. 4 is a view of the entire camera with partsbroken away and others in section as they would appear upon taking awayone of the sides of the camera, the position of the parts beingdifferent from that shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views ofthe mechanism for changing the exposure from a snap-shot to a timeexposure, and Fig. 7 is a detail of the mechanism for adjusting thespeed of the shutter.

The camera consists of a box A, having a back B and any suitablemechanism (not shown) for holding the sensitive plate or film in thefocal plane of the objective P. At the rear portion of the camera, nearthe top thereof, is pivoted an opaque plate J, having at its front end alateral lug J. This lug is adapted to be engaged by a locking-lever M,

pivoted at M and pressed by a spring M to hold the plate J in itslowermost position.

The plate J is pivoted at J and carries upon its upper face a mirror N,which is inclined at about forty-five degrees when saidplateisinitslowermostposition. Inadvance of the plate J a transversesegmental wall 0 extends from side to side within the camera, beingstationary therein. The center of curvature of the said curved wall isat J Immediately in the rear of the objective or lens P the wall 0 isprovided with an aperture 0, through which the light from the lens mayreach either the mirror N or the sensitive plate, which is in the focalplane. With the plate J is connected at its side a link Q, extendingupwardly through an opening A in the top A of the camera, and said linkis adapted to be engaged by a hood R, pivoted to the top, as at R, andadapted to be swung into an open raised position by a coiled spring RThe sides R of the hood may be made of cloth or other suitable flexiblematerial.

Immediately beneath the hood a pane of ground glass S is located in thetop of the camera to show the image reflected by the mirror N, as willbe readily understood. When not in use, the hood B may be held closed bya catch T, engaging a pin T on the hood.

Upon the segmental wall 0 is adapted to slide on the inside the shutterN. This shutter is also segmental and is provided at its upper and lowerends with flanges WV, adapted to be engaged by the plate J. The shutteris guided at its edges in any suitable manner, such as by flanges Y onthe wall 0, and its downward movement is limited by the engagement ofthe upper flange W with the upper ends of the flanges Y. The shutter hasan aperture W of approximately the same size as the aperture 0 in thewall 0. It will be understood that the shutter is operated by themovement of the plate J, which is under the control of the spring K. Thespeed of the shutter may be regulated by varying the tension of thespring K by means of a pawl K, engaging a ratchet K on the shaft of thespring, or by means of any other suitable mechanism.

As hereinbefore stated, the plate J is held in its lower position by thelever M, and to release the plate J, I provide a button X, adapted toslide inward in the front of the camera, so as to swing the lever M onits fulcrum (see Fig. 4) and allow the plate J to be swung upward. Toenable the apparatus to be set for time exposures or snap-shots, thebutton X is made at its inner end with a semicircular eccentric portionX. By turning the button X on its axis the said eccentric portion may bebrought into the path of the projection J of the plate J, and if this isdone the spring K will move the plate J halfway only, as shown in Fig.at, the said plate being moved home fully after the operator releasesthe button X, so as to enable the same to move outward under theinfluence of the spring M If, however, the button X is turned so as tobring the eccentric projection X to one side and out of the path of thelug J, the spring K will swing the plate J fully up against the top ofthe camera, thus producing a snap-shot. The link Q, may be connectedwith a spring Q, to keep it in a forward position; but this is notabsolutely necessary.

The operation of the camera is as follows: Fig. 1 shows the position ofthe parts preparatory to making an exposure. The lens P throws the imagethrough the openings 0 and W upon the mirror N, which reflects saidimage on the ground glass S, where it may be viewed by the operator. Itwill be observed that the image is of exactly the same size as theactual picture will be, being pro duced by the same lens. The parts ofthe shutter and of the releasing device are in the position illustratedby Fig. 3. To make an exposure, the operator presses the button X. Thiscauses the lever M to swing on its pivot, so as to clear the lug J ofthe plate J and allow the spring K to throw the plate J upward. In suchmovement the plate at first moves alone until it engages the upperflange IV of the shutter W. As the plate Jswings past the aperture 7 ofthe shutter it allows the light from the lens I to fall upon thesensitive plate, thus making an exposure; but in case the camera is setfor a snap-shot the plate J will continue its upward movement, and owingto its contact with the upper flange W of the shutter it will carry theshutter upward, so as to bring its lower imperforate portion over theopening 0 of the wall 0, thus shutting off the light from the camera, asshown in Fig. 2. When it is desired to make another exposure, theoperator swings the hood R downward. This movement by the link Q causesa similar movement of the plate J, swinging .the same back to itslowermost position, in which also the shutter is caused to movedownward, so as to bring its aperture W int-0 registry with the opening0 in the wall 0.

It will be seen that the finder shows the image full size, thus enablingthe operator to better judge of the appearance of the finished picturethan by the usual finders. If the button X is turned for a timeexposure, the projection X will engage the lug J, and thus stop theplate J before it has begun to move the shutter W out of its position ofregistry with the aperture 0. The. lens will therefore act upon thesensitive plate until the operator releases the button X, when the plateJ will complete its upward movement and close the shutter.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a camera, a curved wall or guide having anaperture, a curved shutter arranged to slide 011 said curved wall, ashutter-operating plate pivoted at the common center of curvatu re ofthe shutter and of said wall and arranged to have a limited movementindependently of the shutter, and means for swinging said plate.

2. In a camera, a finder provided with a pivoted plate carrying amirror, a stationary apertured wall located in the rear of the objectiveand curved with the pivot of the plate for its center of curvature, anda segmental shutter separate from the said plate and capable ofremaining stationary during part of the plates movemen t,said shutterbeing mounted to slide on said curved wall and provided with projectionsadapted to be engaged by the said plate to operate the shutter.

3. Ina camera, a shutter having projections, a shutter-operating platemovable between said projections, a locking-lever adapted to hold thesaid plate, and a releasingbutton adapted to actuate the lever, the saidreleasing-button being mounted to turn and carrying an eccentric portionwhich in one position projects into the path of the operatingplate toarrest the same, while in the other position the eccentric portion ofthe button will clear said plate.

4-. In a camera, a curved apertured wall located in the rear of theobjective, at segmental shutter mounted to slide on said wall, a pivotedoperatingplate arranged to engage said shutter and capable of a limitedindependent movement, a finder-mirror carried by said plate, and afinder-hood connected with the operating-plate to move the latter inwardupon the closing of the hood.

5. In a camera, a shutter, an operatingplate therefor, a finder-mirrorcarried by said plate, and a hood for the finder, connected with theoperating-plate to move the latter inward upon the closing of the hood.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GASSNER FE TUS FRALEY.

Witnesses:

WM. TANNER, F. D. HIGH.

